French MotoGP: No pneumatic valve Honda engine to test

Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden have confirmed that plans to test Honda’s pneumatic valve engine after this weekend’s French MotoGP in Le Mans have been scrapped.

The new V4 motor, which was axed during winter test in February after a catalogue of problems, was expected to return at a two-day test session in Le Mans next Monday and Tuesday.

But world championship leader Pedrosa and American Hayden have today confirmed the engine has not been despatched from Japan.

Pedrosa and Hayden have cut a scheduled two-day test down to just one.

And 2006 MotoGP world champion Hayden told MCN today: “It’s not here and won’t be coming as far as I know. We were supposed to test it on Monday and Tuesday but I found out last week that we had cut it down to just Monday with not so much to test.

“Who doesn’t want a new engine, but what can I do about it? Something is obviously holding them back and there is no point in bringing it just for the sake of it.

“I think they are doing the right thing even though they are getting a lot of pressure for not bringing it. They are just waiting until it is ready.”